What is Expository Writing?

Exposition is a type of oral or written discourse that is used to explain, describe, give information or inform. The creator of an expository text can not assume that the reader or listener has prior knowledge or prior understanding of the topic that is being discussed. One important point to keep in mind for the author is to try to use words that clearly show what they are talking about rather then blatantly telling the reader what is being discussed. Since clarity requires strong organization, one of the most important mechanisms that can be used to improve our skills in exposition is to provide directions to improve the organization of the text. The different types of expository writing are:

• Sequence writing lists events or steps in chronological order.
• Descriptive essays use the senses of sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste to provide the reader with a mental image or feeling about the subject.
• Classification writing uses an organizational strategy to arrange groups of objects or ideas according to a common theme.
• Comparison writing shows the similarities and differences between two or more subjects.
• Cause-and-effect writing, also known as analysis, identifies the reasons for an event or situation.